Has most cyclists taken angry pills latley?
I've has 3 incidents with cyclists in the last month, where I've never had an issue before.
1. 2 cyclists on Nepean Hwy Mentone in morning peak hour cruising side by side and causing carnage behind. I pulled up along side on my motorbike and asked why (politley and not being inflamitory), was abused.
2. Walking along southbank Melbourne (not texting or listening to music) and cyclist who had all the gear flies through the lunch crowed and hits a busker. Then abuses the busker for being there.
3. A Jayco team rider runs a red light, cuts a 4wd and myself (again on my motorcycle) off, then yells abuse. I almost dropped my bike and missed him by millimeters.
I'm a casual cyclist (MTB). I used to be 'hardcore' roadie but gave it away and I'm not a hater at all.
I know that there's always bad eggs that make it worse for everyone else but it seems that there's more aggression (on all sides) regarding the use of bicycles on the road.
What's got to give and what will be the solution?
I'd hate to see more cyclists dying because of the aggression on the roads. In a fight, a 2 ton car used as a weapon will win every time.
Select to expand quoteechunda said..
3. A Jayco team rider runs a red light, cuts a 4wd and myself...
possibly a punter who wants you to think he is pro, you can tell, the punter has the more serious race-face.
around here the pros do the right thing and set an example.
everyone is in the wrong but the vehicle can be identified and the cyclist cannot. Pisses me off that government/councils spend millions on poorly used or constructed bike paths. Pisses me off more that I cop s#it as a recreational cyclist on the road when i'm doing the right thing the whole time & always keep to the left but attitudes have been spoilt by lycra clad cafe racers. I used to own & race road bikes but never again (as of 10+ years ago) will I ever be seen in lycra or on a road bike as I would be ashamed to be associated with these fools. Way to f@ck it up for everyone 
This is a case of government really does need to step in, create & clamp down on laws & since sense cannot prevail register all bikes of users over 18 or some better idea. We live in a country where everyone has their head so far up their clacker in focus of personal pursuits that it is a detriment to society & the freedoms afforded to the whole. A little bit of consideration for others & consequence goes a long way.
Cycling in the Adelaide hills has gained popularity past 10 years. I think this is good. 99% of cyclists I see do the right thing. It's the 1% you mentioned that don't.
Select to expand quotemkseven said..
We live in a country where everyone has their head so far up their clacker in focus of personal pursuits that it is a detriment to society & the freedoms afforded to the whole. A little bit of consideration for others & consequence goes a long way.
Absolutely spot on.
Select to expand quoteechunda said..
I've has 3 incidents with cyclists in the last month, where I've never had an issue before.
I'd hate to see more cyclists dying because of the aggression on the roads. In a fight, a 2 ton car used as a weapon will win every time.
Bad luck comes in 3s, or so the saying goes.
Did you see the video of a driver in Qld deliberately hitting a cyclist from behind a couple of days ago? Using a car as a weapon rates just as highly on any sensible criminal scale as king hitting.
Select to expand quoteMr Milk said...echunda said..
I've has 3 incidents with cyclists in the last month, where I've never had an issue before.
I'd hate to see more cyclists dying because of the aggression on the roads. In a fight, a 2 ton car used as a weapon will win every time.
Bad luck comes in 3s, or so the saying goes.
Did you see the video of a driver in Qld deliberately hitting a cyclist from behind a couple of days ago? Using a car as a weapon rates just as highly on any sensible criminal scale as king hitting.
Not condoning the action of the driver in that vid,
But seriously
That cyclist was so far out on the road, that car could have nearly passed him on his left hand side.
What was someone saying about common sense?
Select to expand quoteechunda said..
Has most cyclists taken angry pills latley?
Yeah. The silly buggers are off the planet. You have middle aged, grey bearded cyclists trying to assert their "rights" in peak hour traffic on the road when there is a cycle path parallel to the road because their missusses won't phuck them any more because of their wanky attitudes.
It is a limp tool thing.
Select to expand quoteechunda said..
1. 2 cyclists on Nepean Hwy Mentone in morning peak hour cruising side by side and causing carnage behind. I pulled up along side on my motorbike and asked why (politley and not being inflamitory), was abused.
I had that exact same experience on Mounts Bay Rd about 5 years ago. You've got to wonder what makes them think it's a good idea.
Select to expand quotecisco said..echunda said..
Has most cyclists taken angry pills latley?
Yeah. The silly buggers are off the planet. You have middle aged, grey bearded cyclists trying to assert their "rights" in peak hour traffic on the road when there is a cycle path parallel to the road because their missusses won't phuck them any more because of their wanky attitudes.
It is a limp tool thing.
I just have to ask how you know this. You must know some cyclists 'really well'... 
Personally, I think the cyclists that act like this are the exact same type of person that uses his car as a weapon and tries to force his rights on the road. Same type of stupid person, just a different vehicle.
Agree, the people complaining about the cyclist are really looking into a mirror at what they see. The way they carry on about how their rights on the roads are being taken away from them and how these bike riders cause so much danger on the roads is a reflection on how they treat other motorises. If you have that much hate and lack of understanding to other legitimate road users and cannot have the patients to accept that we are growing into a larger populated country that needs to modify the way we travel, then I hope you don't have kids and pass on the intolerance.
Select to expand quoteFormulaNova said..cisco said..echunda said..
Has most cyclists taken angry pills latley?
Yeah. The silly buggers are off the planet. You have middle aged, grey bearded cyclists trying to assert their "rights" in peak hour traffic on the road when there is a cycle path parallel to the road because their missusses won't phuck them any more because of their wanky attitudes.
It is a limp tool thing.
I just have to ask how you know this. You must know some cyclists 'really well'...
Personally, I think the cyclists that act like this are the exact same type of person that uses his car as a weapon and tries to force his rights on the road. Same type of stupid person, just a different vehicle.
One thing lost on car and truck drivers tho is that their "weapon"maims and kills
one thing LOST on cyclists is the car and truck drivers "weapon" maim and kill ppl !!
Just be cause you think you have the rite doesn't mean you put your self in danger, applies to many things cycling, walking across the road, kite surfing, etc
I have the right to put myself on danger in the surf, but it don't have to right to die on a blke so some poor bastard goes to jail.
Just now having breakfast at a cafe and some lady on a bike with kiddie emailer abused a car doing a u Turn. Totally unfounded! Then she and her child ride down the middle of a one way street that traffic turn into off a main road. What of a car turned and hit her and her child?
I used to ride a bit I the roads, but now it's a joke. The bike lanes have confused the situation.... But that's another story
Select to expand quoteDarkspi said..
one thing LOST on cyclists is the car and truck drivers "weapon" maim and kill ppl !!
Just be cause you think you have the rite doesn't mean you put your self in danger, applies to many things cycling, walking across the road, kite surfing, etc
Absolutely .i ride my bike everywhere and I am extremely cautious.my approach if something goes wrong it's my fault .its a good defense mechanism .having said that I did manage to get a woman who forced me off the road when she overtook me and cut me off when turning left charged with neg driving and ahefty fine .it was her ****ty attitude when I confronted her when she parked down the road and said I was just a dumb ****w bike rider who shouldn't be on the road and who would the cops believe her and her baby ? Or dumb **** rider .i pointed to the 4 witnesses and said probably dumb **** rider .when I went to the cops I asked them just to warn her but they were keen to charge her.
On a side note I reckon the decline of bikes for transport and the rise of the car can be directly attributed to the stupid uncomfortable seats they started putting on bikes from the 70s onwards that give you haemoroids
Select to expand quoteDarkspi said..
one thing LOST on cyclists is the car and truck drivers "weapon" maim and kill ppl !!
Just be cause you think you have the rite doesn't mean you put your self in danger, applies to many things cycling, walking across the road, kite surfing, etc
I agree. This also applies to stupid people walking around looking at their phone instead of where they are going. They have the right to walk on the footpath. They have the right to cross at a crossing. In fact, I think they have the right-of-way pretty much anywhere on the road, but it is still dumb when these people step off the footpath into the road without looking for cars.
but, a motorist doesn't have the right to intimidate another motorist just because they don't like what the other one is doing. They don't have the right to intimidate a cyclist, just because they have some misguided notion that they 'don't pay rego'. They don't have the right to risk killing someone else just because their journey might be delayed a bit.
I think it would be awesome if they created dedicated cycle lanes by taking the third lane from three lane roads. Separation, and safety. The cyclists can travel safely and the motorists can be free of them.
As individuals bike riders are pretty good most of the time - put them in a "peleton of pink pants" and they are no better than a pack of patch wearing bikies with much the same attitude sometimes.
Having said that they have as much right to use the road as anyone else but quite often I think the lycra is way too tight and it restricts the blood flow to their brains a little.
What happened to the rule or idea of many years ago that cyclists need to ride single file?? Must be that they feel the need to ride in packs of 50 which would make their line stretch for a half a kilometre I guess
Beware the European law that Cyclists are right and car drivers or motorbike riders are ALWAYS wrong no matter the circumstances...
Select to expand quoteGreenPat said..echunda said..
1. 2 cyclists on Nepean Hwy Mentone in morning peak hour cruising side by side and causing carnage behind. I pulled up along side on my motorbike and asked why (politley and not being inflamitory), was abused.
I had that exact same experience on Mounts Bay Rd about 5 years ago. You've got to wonder what makes them think it's a good idea.
They probably think it's a good idea because:
1. They are legally allowed to do it
2. If they are in single file, tucked to the left people will not move out enough to overtake them (have you heard of the 1M law people are pushing)
3. A cyclist has the rights to the whole lane, not just one foot of glassy, dirty, rough tarmac
I was overtaken on a roundabout last week by a LWB white van, I had to hit the back of the van with my arm so he moved over (we were doing about 20kmph). If I was right in the middle of the lane he couldn't have overtaken and I would have been safer.
Select to expand quotepatsken said..
As individuals bike riders are pretty good most of the time - put them in a "peleton of pink pants" and they are no better than a pack of patch wearing bikies with much the same attitude sometimes.
Having said that they have as much right to use the road as anyone else but quite often I think the lycra is way too tight and it restricts the blood flow to their brains a little.
What happened to the rule or idea of many years ago that cyclists need to ride single file?? Must be that they feel the need to ride in packs of 50 which would make their line stretch for a half a kilometre I guess
Beware the European law that Cyclists are right and car drivers or motorbike riders are ALWAYS wrong no matter the circumstances...
They are allowed to ride 2 abreast I think, but that doesn't make it right in a lot of situations. Again, I think its a case of "I have the right to ride 2 abreast", even if its seriously stupid or inconveniencing heaps of other people.
I go on multi-day rides every now and then and think they are safer because you are riding with a huge number of people and there are police and event organisers to help out. Even then, you get idiots that think riding 6 or even 8 abreast, on the wrong side of the road, heading towards a blind corner, is perfectly okay. They also spread out across that same road. I can understand why they want to do it, as they want to talk, but its really dumb. Also annoying for me when I catch up with a pack like this and in theory should overtake them on the right.
I am sure that these same people would think that driving 3m behind another car at 100km/h is perfectly fine too. If you are one of these people, congratulations, you appear to be common, and probably the same as these idiots that stand out for breaking the rules when riding.
P.S. Wearing lycra on a bike is actually comfortable and not a representation of anything other than that.
Select to expand quoteBenKirk said..GreenPat said..echunda said..
1. 2 cyclists on Nepean Hwy Mentone in morning peak hour cruising side by side and causing carnage behind. I pulled up along side on my motorbike and asked why (politley and not being inflamitory), was abused.
I had that exact same experience on Mounts Bay Rd about 5 years ago. You've got to wonder what makes them think it's a good idea.
They probably think it's a good idea because:
1. They are legally allowed to do it
2. If they are in single file, tucked to the left people will not move out enough to overtake them (have you heard of the 1M law people are pushing)
3. A cyclist has the rights to the whole lane, not just one foot of glassy, dirty, rough tarmac
I was overtaken on a roundabout last week by a LWB white van, I had to hit the back of the van with my arm so he moved over (we were doing about 20kmph). If I was right in the middle of the lane he couldn't have overtaken and I would have been safer.
Correct.
Most cyclists are very smart, nearly everything drivers object to cyclists are doing to create a safer ride for themselves.
Hope on a bike and go for a ride so you can understand. Re-read your road rules, most cyclists have.
And remember there are an awful lot of police and lawyers who are cyclists.
Nobody is more important than anyone else, everyone has paid for the road, so be courteous and share, whatever vehicle you choose.
heavy weather ahoy cap'n.
I reckon if you ride at high speed up a 1 foot gap between a taxi and the curb you can't complain if a punter opens the door to get out.
I think any vehicle using the road should be able to attain a 60kmh speed as a minimum.
So if a cyclist can cycle that fast on a flat he/she can use the road.
Otherwise use the f'ing side walk, footpath slow lane.
But y'all just keeping on having kids it's only going to get better.
Welcome to your future:
Select to expand quotekiteboy dave said..
heavy weather ahoy cap'n.
I reckon if you ride at high speed up a 1 foot gap between a taxi and the curb you can't complain if a punter opens the door to get out.
Yeah, that's an interesting one. If its not a legit cycle lane, why is the lane there. If the lane is there for another reason, why have 'they' not stopped people using it as a cycle lane.
If it is a cycle lane, why isn't it marked as such.
Select to expand quoteFlySurfer said..
I think any vehicle using the road should be able to attain a 60kmh speed as a minimum.
So if a cyclist can cycle that fast on a flat he/she can use the road.
Otherwise use the f'ing side walk, footpath slow lane.
(I heard there were too many posties on the sidewalk 
)
Why stop there? I think it needs to be that you need to be able to attain 60km/h in 4 seconds, or get off the road.Select to expand quote
But y'all just keeping on having kids it's only going to get better.
Welcome to your future:
That future looks good. All the cyclists can probably move faster than the cars.
Select to expand quoteFormulaNova said..patsken said..
As individuals bike riders are pretty good most of the time - put them in a "peleton of pink pants" and they are no better than a pack of patch wearing bikies with much the same attitude sometimes.
Having said that they have as much right to use the road as anyone else but quite often I think the lycra is way too tight and it restricts the blood flow to their brains a little.
What happened to the rule or idea of many years ago that cyclists need to ride single file?? Must be that they feel the need to ride in packs of 50 which would make their line stretch for a half a kilometre I guess
Beware the European law that Cyclists are right and car drivers or motorbike riders are ALWAYS wrong no matter the circumstances...
They are allowed to ride 2 abreast I think, but that doesn't make it right in a lot of situations. Again, I think its a case of "I have the right to ride 2 abreast", even if its seriously stupid or inconveniencing heaps of other people.
I go on multi-day rides every now and then and think they are safer because you are riding with a huge number of people and there are police and event organisers to help out. Even then, you get idiots that think riding 6 or even 8 abreast, on the wrong side of the road, heading towards a blind corner, is perfectly okay. They also spread out across that same road. I can understand why they want to do it, as they want to talk, but its really dumb. Also annoying for me when I catch up with a pack like this and in theory should overtake them on the right.
I am sure that these same people would think that driving 3m behind another car at 100km/h is perfectly fine too. If you are one of these people, congratulations, you appear to be common, and probably the same as these idiots that stand out for breaking the rules when riding.
P.S. Wearing lycra on a bike is actually comfortable and not a representation of anything other than that.
pps The reference to lycra was a bit of tongue in cheek - a bit like boardies over wetsuits for kiters but I do notice the aggressive herd mentality when there are large packs of Sunday riders is not too dis-similar to the local 1% ers that I see on their Harleys. Then again to be safe the best form of defence is most likely to attack when you choose to sit on a bike in the middle of traffic ...
What sort of rubbish is this:
"
He said lanes with bicycle symbols painted on them were not necessarily bicycle lanes, pointing to a "classic example" in front of the Victoria Police Centre in Flinders Street.
"That's a painted bicycle symbol in that lane there, but it is not a bike lane because it has no signage," Sergeant Lavos said.
"It must have a 'start bike lane' sign on the top [of a pole], as well as the markings on the road, then an end sign either at an intersection or wherever it technically ends."
So, in order to see that the lane you are in, that has bicycle symbols painted on them, is actually a bike lane, you need to go to the beginning of it to see if it has a 'start bike lane' sign, and then go to the end of it to see if it has an 'end sign'. All, presumably, while treating it as if it is not a bike lane.
Is that crazy or what!
I might go for a drive later, but I am unsure if the tar outside of my house is actually a road. I don't see any signs around saying 'start road', or even any 'end road' signs, so I am thinking that maybe its not really a road. I wonder if I can just store some things on it, because its probably just vacant land...
Sheeesh. A non-bike lane, with bicycle symbols painted on it.
Select to expand quotepatsken said..
pps The reference to lycra was a bit of tongue in cheek - a bit like boardies over wetsuits for kiters but I do notice the aggressive herd mentality when there are large packs of Sunday riders is not too dis-similar to the local 1% ers that I see on their Harleys. Then again to be safe the best form of defence is most likely to attack when you choose to sit on a bike in the middle of traffic ...
Agreed. I see some dumb behavior, and often think "you are telling motorists that we are all idiots" by riding that way.
I still remember seeing a woman on an organised ride, riding up to a round-about and approaching it the same way she would have in a car. When she realised she wasn't going to beat the car onto it, she decided to stop. Bike brakes don't work anywhere near as well as car brakes and luckily the driver was a bit more cautious and had already started to slow down.
Select to expand quotecisco said..
...
Yeah. The silly buggers are off the planet. You have middle aged, grey bearded cyclists trying to assert their "rights" in peak hour traffic on the road when there is a cycle path parallel to the road because their missusses won't phuck them any more because of their wanky attitudes.
It is a limp tool thing.
Partially true. They won't ride on the track because they're afraid of people and animals walking out in front of them, and cars coming out of car parks.
There's some truth in that but you can ride perfectly safely on a cycle track if you're sensible and careful and slow down a little. I've done 10,000km on cycle tracks in the past year and half with not a hint of trouble. I've been harassed twice by f'ck'n Audi drivers in the 200 metres of on road riding I do each day because the cycle lane is full of pricks parking in it.
